New Immigration Bill Includes Support for Families and Workers, Yet Would Continue Key Failures of Current System

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Newark, NJ (April 17, 2013) -The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) finds the immigration billintroduced today a modest start on reform, due to provisions that addressfamily unification and workers' rights and create a narrow path tocitizenship for some immigrants. But much of the bill reproduces many ofthe current failed policies - making the overall bill a far cry from thejust and humane reforms that immigrant communities, faith, labor andadvocacy groups have been calling for.

"The Senate bill makesmeaningful improvements for immigrants with temporary protected status,undocumented youth, and agricultural workers by providing a fast track tolegal permanent residency. However, it would not end the current cruel,costly and inefficient system of detention and deportat ion, or themilitarization of the border that has devastated communities on both sidesof the border," said Amy Gottlieb of the AFSC Immigrant Rights Program inNewark.

The bill not only doubles down on some failed policies. Italso elevates them to the status of mandatory measurable triggers,including universal E-Verify, a 90 percent border 'security' metric, and anew entry-exit port system. It would waste billions on drones, costlyhigh-tech gadgetry, additional fencing, and personnel.

One part ofthe bill does offer greater accountability and oversight of borderenforcement, a long-standing demand by immigrant communities and their allies, including AFSC. It would establish a task force of border community stakeholders to evaluate and make recommendations regarding immigration policies along the border. Since 2010, the Border Patrol hasclaimed the lives of 20 unarmed civilians, and no official has been heldaccountable for these deaths. Federal agents seemingly operate withimpunity, systematically violating the human rights and civil liberties of border residents.

The bill also includes the right of due processand worker protections under the mandatory E-Verify provision. However,E-Verify and other employment verification programs remain highly flawed,problematic and costly.

"We are gratified to see that the bill doesbegin an important conversation about future flows of workers to the U.S.,by identifying significant labor and wage standard protections andopportunities to apply for permanent status and supporting family unity,"said Amy.

The bill strives to keep families together byrestructuring a fundamentally flawed system with long waiting periods intoone that provides new opportunities for people to migratelawfully.

Still, because of limitations in the bill, there may bemany who continue to live in the shadows, subject to the cruelties of abroken system including exploitation and abuse by unscrupulousemployers.

The AFSC implores Congress to adopt compassionate andeffective immigration reforms that are grounded in the followingprinciples:

Develop humane economic policies to reduce forcedmigration.

Protect the labor rights of all workers.

Develop a quick path to legal permanent residency and a clear path to citizenship.

Respect the civil and human rights ofimmigrants.

Demilitarize the U.S.-Mexico border.

Make family reunification a top priority.

Ensure that immigrants andrefugees have access to services.

AFSC has created A New Path, which lays out policy priorities for humane immigration reform thatprotects the human rights of all people. These principles are derived fromnine decades of work with immigrant communities, whose voices must beheard as we seek meaningful and humane policies.

The American FriendsService Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of variousfaiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarianservice. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person andfaith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.